Portable data transmission device, and fixing element

• US 6,367,701 B1
• Filed: 01/19/1999
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Fries, Manfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): St. Cyr, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US09/233,279
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• Field of Search: 235/485, 235/492, 235/493, 235/472.02, 235/449, 235/380, 235/379
• US Class Current: 235/486
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/005 the record carrier comprising an arrangement to facilitate insertion into a holding device, e.g. an arrangement that makes the record carrier fit into an etui or a casing ticket holders A45C11/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10178 including auxiliary means for focusing, repeating or boosting the electromagnetic interrogation field comparable booster antennas integrated on the record carrier itself G06K19/07794

Abstract

The portable data transmission system is adapted to the contactless transmission of electrical signals and/or data between a smart card and a read-write station. The smart card has an electronic circuit with a data memory and an induction coil integrated in a smart card body. A coupling element is assigned to the induction coil and is disposed in a predetermined spatial position with regard to the induction coil. The smart card and the coupling element are respectively autonomous components which can be used independently of one another. A fixing element is at least partially matched to the outer dimensions of the smart card. The fixing element supports the smart card, on the one hand, and the coupling element, on the other hand, in the predetermined position with regard to the smart card.

Claims

1. A portable data transmission system, comprising:

a contactless smart card with a card body having given outer dimensions and carrying an electronic circuit with a data memory and an induction coil integrated in said card body and electrically connected to said electronic circuit;

a fixing element having dimensions substantially matched to the given outer dimensions of said card body and being adapted to receive said smart card; and

magnetic particles incorporated in said fixing element and having a defined spatial position relative to said induction coil in said card body for facilitating contactless inductive transmission of data and power when said smart card is received by said fixing element.

2. The data transmission system according to claim 1, wherein said fixing element is an encapsulation pocket for said smart card for at least partially accommodating said smart card.

3. The data transmission system according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic particles are permanently fixed to said fixing element, and wherein said fixing element and said smart card are adapted to mutually engage in a releasable mechanical connection.

4. The data transmission system according to claim 1, wherein said fixing element is produced from plastic material.

5. The data transmission system according to claim 4, wherein said magnetic particles are incorporated in said plastic material of said fixing element.

6. The data transmission system according to claim 1, wherein said fixing element is formed as a pocket for at least partially accommodating said smart card, said pocket being formed with a baseplate, a cover plate at least partially covering said baseplate, and a spacer supporting said cover plate at an edge region of said baseplate.

7. The data transmission system according to claim 6, wherein said spacer is a substantially U-shaped spacer.

8. The data transmission system according to claim 6, wherein said spacer is formed of a plurality of mutually spaced apart individual spacer webs distributed about the edge region of said baseplate.

9. The data transmission system according to claim 6, wherein said magnetic particles are incorporated in one of said baseplate and said cover plate.

10. The data transmission system according to claim 6, wherein said magnetic particles are incorporated in said baseplate and said cover plate.

11. A combination of magnetic particles and a fixing element for mechanically fixing a contactless smart card having an electronic circuit and an induction coil connected to the electronic circuit relative to magnetic particles, for inductive transmission of data and power between the smart card and a read-write station associated with said fixing element:

said fixing element comprising a baseplate with an edge region, a cover plate at least partially covering said baseplate, and a spacer supporting said cover plate on said edge region of said baseplate, said baseplate, said cover plate, and said spacer together forming a pocket for receiving the smart card; and

said magnetic particles being incorporated in at least one of said baseplate and said cover plate, in a predetermined spatial position relative to the induction coil of the contactless smart card for facilitating contactless inductive transmission of data and power between the contactless smart card and a read-write station when the contactless smart card is inserted in said pocket.

12. The fixing element according to claim 11, wherein said spacer is a substantially U-shaped spacer.

13. The fixing element according to claim 12, wherein said baseplate, said cover plate, and said spacer are produced from plastic material.

14. The fixing element according to claim 13, wherein said magnetic particles are incorporated in said plastic material.

15. The fixing element according to claim 11, wherein said spacer is formed of a plurality of mutually spaced apart individual spacer webs distributed about said edge region of said baseplate.

16. The fixing element according to claim 11, wherein said baseplate, said cover plate, and said spacer together form an encapsulation pocket for at least partially accommodating the smart card.

17. The fixing element according to claim 11, wherein said magnetic particles are permanently fixed to the fixing element, and wherein the fixing element and said smart card are adapted to mutually engage in a releasable mechanical connection.

18. A portable data transmission system for inductively transmitting and receiving transmission of data and power from a read-write station to a contactless a smart card, comprising:

a contactless smart card with a card body having given outer dimensions and carrying an electronic circuit with a data memory and an induction coil integrated in said card body and electrically connected to said electronic circuit;

a fixing element having dimensions substantially matched to the given outer dimensions of said card body and being adapted for receiving said smart card, said fixing element being connected to or part of a read-write station; and

magnetic particles incorporated in said fixing element and having a defined spatial position relative to said induction coil in said card body when said smart card is received by said fixing element such as facilitating contactless inductive transmission of data and power between said contactless smart card and said read-write station.